COMMUNITY OF PEACE 27, ST. PAUL WASHINGTON 25
With only one game to pick from in the entire state my choice was made for me. So, it was off to St. Paul Washington. For the third time this week a visitor topped the guest. Charter school Community of Peace, a class A team located in St. Paul, picked up their first win of the year over Washington, who is now 0-3 on the year. But this is the most the Eagles have scored this year in any game. In fact, if you total the first two contests SPW only had 20 points.
You will notice the turnover count. We cannot point to high intensity defense for the lack of scoring. What we can point to is the lack of game experience and extensive playing time and decision making with live defenders. Both teams started in zone. Looking at the pp100 scores, they were at freezing or slightly better. A 34.6 is the lowest pp100 for any winner this year.
That doesn’t mean there wasn’t any drama. There were still things to be learned. At half COP led 13-9. This game almost came to blows in the second half after play got a little more physical than Washington’s Ja’Nell Haradaway preferred. After both parties had some time to think it over on the sidelines, they returned to action when the game was in the balance. With four minutes left COP led 25-19. That seemed like a 12 point lead in a typical game. Selena Garcia scored on a drive from the right side for Washington. The Tigers had chances to score, sometimes three chances in one possession, but couldn’t connect. That gave the Eagles hope. Hardaway found Camryn Franke on the left block and it was a one possession game. Franke scored again with 18 seconds left on another Hardaway assist to send the crowd into bedlam. It was Crystal Plata of COP that prevented an overtime session with a pull up left baseline jumper with 3 seconds left. Washington desperately called time out, but their opportunity was an 80 foot shot that was well off the mark.
| COMMUNITY OF PEACE | ST. PAUL WASHINGTON | |
| POINTS | 27 | 25 |
| REBOUNDS/OFF | 51/24 | 58/27 |
| TURNOVERS | 28 | 36 |
| FTA/% | 11/27.3 | 8/0.0 |
| 2FG%/3FG% | 22.6/0.0 | 22.4/5.3 |
| PP100 | 34.6 | 32.5 |
| TOP SCORER | Crystal Plata 8 | Two with 8 |
TRENCH PLAYER: Crystal Plata of Community of Peace with 8 points, 66.7 pp100 and a 21 in the 31 Club. Plus the game winning shot doesn’t hurt.